THE OPOSSUM. 147 



take refuge in the pouch of the mother, or, clinging to 

 various parts of her body, hide their faces amidst her long 

 hair. 



" The general color of the Opossum is a whitish gray. 

 From the top of the head along the back and upper part 

 of the sides, the gray is darkest, and this color is produced 

 by the intermixture of coarse white hairs, upwards of three 

 inches long, with a shorter, closer, and softer hair, which 

 is white at base, and black for about half an inch at tip. 

 The whole fur is of a woolly softness, and the long white 

 hairs diverging considerably, allow the back parts to be 

 seen, so as to give the general gray color already men- 

 tioned. On the face the wool is short, and of a smoky 

 white color ; that on the belly is of the same character, 

 but is longer on the fore and hind legs ; the color is nearly 

 black from the body to the digits, which are naked beneath. 

 The tail is thick and black, for upwards of three inches at 

 base, and is covered by small hexagonal scales, having 

 short rigid hairs interspersed throughout its length, which 

 are but slightly perceptible at a little distance. The Opos- 

 sum is generally killed for the sake of its flesh and fat. Its 

 wool is of considerable length and fineness during the 

 winter season, and we should suppose that in manufac- 

 tures it would be equal to the sheep's wool which is wrought 

 into coarse ha,ts. 



" The Opossum is a nocturnal and timid animal, de- 

 pending for his safety more on cunning than strength. His 

 motions are slow, and his walk, when on the ground, en- 

 tirely plantigrade, which gives an appearance of clumsi- 

 ness to his movements. When on the branches of trees, 

 he moves with much greater ease, and with perfect secu- 

 rity from sudden gusts of wind : even were his weight 

 sufficient to break the limb on which he rests, there is no 

 danger of his falling to the earth, unless when on the 

 lowest branch, as he can certainly catch, and securely 

 cling to, the smallest intervening twigs either with the 



